Quintessential Cleo Qnote Records
Format: CD
Price: £7.00
Quintessential Cleo
A compendium of important tracks performed by Dame Cleo Laine taken from various sources, venues, studios and record producers featuring different musical line-ups.
Quintessential Cleo Cleo Laine Cat No. QNT10107
“He Was Beautiful” (aka “Cavatina” in it’s original instrumental version) with lyrics by Dame Cleo has been immensely popular in both versions. The classic duet version with world famous classical guitarist John Williams from the hit album “Best Friends” is included here.
Elsewhere the contrasts are immense. “Pig Foot” amply illustrates that contrast with its strangely enigmatic lyric, grinding New Orleans beat and it’s Bessie Smith heritage.
Cleo actually does not do that many “ooblies” but she is so staggeringly and uniquely good at this mini genre that her reputation in this field follows her around. Check out “Birdsong” (written by husband and bandleader, John Dankworth – how about that?) for a shining example.
Of course she is amazing “live” and examples abound in this collection. The sheer pace, power and range of “Ridin’ High” performed live without a safety net stands out as does, for different reasons, the light hearted “Turkish Delight”.
Also, don’t miss the instant swing and inexorable build on the title “Talk To Me Baby”.
Cleo is certainly not averse to performing and recording newer songs from the pop world when the song has appropriate lyrical and musical content and quality and Stevie Wonder and Billy Joel are featured as composers of two of the tracks, namely “All In Love Is Fair” and “Just The Way You Are”.
Altogether an album justifiably including the two words “Quintessential” and “Cleo”.
Track Listing
- Talk To Me Baby
- Come Back To Me
- Feelings
- Wave
- Gimme A Pigfoot And A Bottle Of Beer
- Never Let Me Go
- Ridin’ High
- I’m Shadowing You
- Turkish Delight
- All In Love Is Fair
- Let The Music Take You
- He Was Beautiful
- Birdsong
- Just The Way You Are
- Being Alive
- Send In The Clowns
Recommendations
- LET THE MUSIC TAKE YOU, Cleo Laine and John Williams
- LOESSER GENIUS, Cleo Laine
- Once Upon A Time - Poetry & Ellington Album
- QUALITY TIME, Cleo Laine
- SMILIN' THROUGH, Cleo Laine and Dudley Moore